• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Lekki Shooting: Buhari presides over FEC, prioritise full implementation of Police reform

ENDSARS: Nigeria will implement demands of protesters, FG assures foreign diplomats

The current nationwide protests against Police brutality is expected to feature prominently at today’s 20th virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President had prior to the commencement of the meeting, welcomed the promptness of all necessary actions taken by both Federal and subnational institutions to implement the demands of the EndSARS protesters and reaffirms his commitment to supporting the State Governments to ensure that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria.

The cabinet meeting which is also being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Mungonu.

Also physically present at the Council Chambers are Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Justice, Abubakar Malami, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu.

Other Ministers and Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, are participating in the weekly council meeting from their various offices in Abuja.

At the last count, no fewer than 13 States have gone ahead to establish the Judicial Panels of Inquiry as resolved by the National Economic Council to address the question of redress and justice for victims of police brutality across the country.

The States that have set up the panels so far are Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Plateau, Edo, Nasarawa, Ondo, and Akwa Ibom.

Under the Chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Economic Council (NEC) at its meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2020, resolved to establish State-level Judicial Panels of Inquiry, to investigate allegations of Police brutality and ensure that all erring personnel is brought to justice.

Read also: #EndSARS Protest: Northern Governors Call For Police Reform

In a statement by the Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, Presidency listed other actions so far taken by the President to include the signing of a Bill establishing the Police Trust Fund, in 2019, to mobilize additional funding for the welfare and equipping of Nigeria Police Force. Accrual of funding into the Fund, as specified in its enabling Act, has commenced.

President Buhari had also in 2018 approved an increase in Police salaries and the Police personnel budget has seen a rise from 288 billion Naira in the 2018 Budget to 417 billion Naira in the proposed 2021 budget; an increase of 45 percent.

Only on Tuesday, at the commissioning of the Nigerian Police Pension Fund Limited building, the President also reiterated continuous support for both serving and retired police personnel.

The President has equally approved the rollout and funding of a new Community Policing Initiative, as part of a larger programme of police reform in Nigeria, aimed at rewriting the rules of engagement between the Force and citizens.

“President Buhari’s commitment to extensive Police reforms should never be in doubt. The President in September 2020 signed the new Nigeria Police Act, the first comprehensive revision of the Police Act in decades.

“As President Buhari declared, the immediate dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), is the first step in a set of reform policies that will deliver a Police system accountable to the Nigerian people.

The President has also approved the full implementation of the report of the 2018-2019 Presidential Panel on Police Reform.

“Indeed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have now commenced the implementation of the Report” the statement noted

The Presidency, therefore, appealed for understanding and calm across the nation, as the implementation of the reforms gathers pace at Federal and State levels, reiterating the full commitment of the Buhari Administration to the implementation of lasting Police reforms in Nigeria.